The media have been a major motivating force behind the development of the contemporary literary and arts scene in the nation.
Take print media as an example. In the early days when newspapers were only 12 pages long, every daily and evening newspaper had its regular arts section, which was able to exert a far-reaching influence on the literary and arts environment. Meanwhile, television programs such as 60 Minutes, Beautiful Island (
Following the end of martial law in 1987 and the lifting of restrictions on newspapers, several of the big papers responded to the page expansion by expanding their arts sections. In addition to reporting on literary and arts events, they also covered theater, movie, music and arts reviews, and even took part in arranging film festivals, exhibitions and performing arts activities.
Suddenly, newspaper features seemed to offer an overwhelming variety of interesting stories. The coverage not only cultivated readers' appreciation for literature and the arts, but also became indispensable in fostering the development of performing arts groups.
The image of newspaper corporate culture was also improved. Those who were arts reporters back then reminisce about those days, which are often described as "the belle epoque of the arts sections."
Other than realizing the ideals of media workers, the greatest significance of this belle epoque was its ability to highlight news media's role in social education.
Unfortunately, in the wider media environment, the arts sections have never been able to break through their weaker status compared to others. The vigorous competition among print media outlets that followed the end of martial law meant that the arts sections were eventually seen as expendable window dressing, and they quickly shrank to almost nothing.
Today, arts sections in major local newspapers are continuing to shrink, and when there are major news events, these sections are naturally the first ones to be cut.
Commercial electronic media generally outsources its arts and literary news, following the "placement marketing" model, rather than taking the initiative to run disinterested news stories about arts and literature.
Compared to the chaotic situation in news and business, the arts section of a newspaper should be free of ideological conflict between the pan-green and pan-blue camps, providing readers with cultural food for thought and highlighting the innovative aspects of media.
News stories take place at the same time as we engage in our daily activities, and culture and our daily lives are closely inter-related.
Life happens every day, and so do news incidents. Why shouldn't art and literary events be given the same weight as other news events and also be reported on a daily basis?
The current situation, in which features sections are likely to be scrapped at any moment, confuses readers. Moreover, certain arts section editors use their power to turn the section into a place to vent their personal anger by attacking certain people even for the slightest and most trivial matters.
This way of handling arts and literary reports is filled with bias, and it only lowers the fairness and significance of a newspaper's arts section.
Promoting cultural affairs is of course the responsibility of the Council for Cultural Affairs, but it is also the responsibility of other government agencies, the general public, the business sector, the mass media and other sections of our society.
Currently, several media corporations have established non-profit departments that promote cultural and public welfare activities. In fact, art and literary sections and reports are themselves the best public welfare undertaking that a media outlet can be involved in and creates the most added value.
I hope that media professionals will pay close attention to the quality and quantity of art and literary reports in their publications, and continue to make a valuable contribution to the general public.
Chiu Kun-liang is the minister of the Council for Cultural Affairs.
Translated by Lin Ya-ti
Could Asia be on the verge of a new wave of nuclear proliferation? A look back at the early history of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, illuminates some reasons for concern in the Indo-Pacific today. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin recently described NATO as “the most powerful and successful alliance in history,” but the organization’s early years were not without challenges. At its inception, the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty marked a sea change in American strategic thinking. The United States had been intent on withdrawing from Europe in the years following
My wife and I spent the week in the interior of Taiwan where Shuyuan spent her childhood. In that town there is a street that functions as an open farmer’s market. Walk along that street, as Shuyuan did yesterday, and it is next to impossible to come home empty-handed. Some mangoes that looked vaguely like others we had seen around here ended up on our table. Shuyuan told how she had bought them from a little old farmer woman from the countryside who said the mangoes were from a very old tree she had on her property. The big surprise
The issue of China’s overcapacity has drawn greater global attention recently, with US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen urging Beijing to address its excess production in key industries during her visit to China last week. Meanwhile in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week said that Europe must have a tough talk with China on its perceived overcapacity and unfair trade practices. The remarks by Yellen and Von der Leyen come as China’s economy is undergoing a painful transition. Beijing is trying to steer the world’s second-largest economy out of a COVID-19 slump, the property crisis and
As former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wrapped up his visit to the People’s Republic of China, he received his share of attention. Certainly, the trip must be seen within the full context of Ma’s life, that is, his eight-year presidency, the Sunflower movement and his failed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, as well as his eight years as Taipei mayor with its posturing, accusations of money laundering, and ups and downs. Through all that, basic questions stand out: “What drives Ma? What is his end game?” Having observed and commented on Ma for decades, it is all ironically reminiscent of former US president Harry